PROFFESSIONAL BEGGING

andy said:

Walking along the banks of the Taff yesterday, nearing the Blackweir. I
arrive at a gate on the path only to find people in bright yellow jackets
stopping passers by and asking them to sign standing order forms, this time
I think for regular contributions to some cycling charity (SUSTRANS) or
other.

Don't know about the banks of the Taff but the places I've seen people
collecting for SUSTRANS like the Bristol to Bath railway path it's
probably worth noting that it's mostly down to SUSTRANS that the path
is there at all or at least there in an "improved" and well maintained
way that all sections of society can use. I put the word improved in
inverted commas because there's certainly some places where some people
might have preferred it before SUSTRANS poshed it up a bit...the bit
they've just done between Symonds Yat & Monmouth in the Wye Valley
springs to mind.

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 09:13:46 +0100, "andy" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

|Walking along the banks of the Taff yesterday, nearing the Blackweir. I
|arrive at a gate on the path only to find people in bright yellow jackets
|stopping passers by and asking them to sign standing order forms, this time
|I think for regular contributions to some cycling charity (SUSTRANS) or
|other.

I respond to these things with "killer" lines, which rock the beggars back
into their heels.

Sorry I can not ride, because of a medical condition.
I hate bikes, one broke my leg when I was a kid.

It is advantageous if these are true.
--
Dave Fawthrop <dave hyphenologist co uk> Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

In article <[email hidden]>, andy
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Walking along the banks of the Taff yesterday, nearing the Blackweir. I
arrive at a gate on the path only to find people in bright yellow jackets
stopping passers by and asking them to sign standing order forms, this time
I think for regular contributions to some cycling charity (SUSTRANS) or
other. It is so annoying, I cannot walk through the centre of Cardiff
without being accosted at least 3 times by these, I suppose you would call
them "professional beggars", now its getting to the point where they are
hitting the countryside as well. I can see a time when they will be on the
top of Penyfan waving their bits of paper and handing you a pen.

The difference with the people collecting for SUSTRANS was that they said
they had nothing to do with the various companies that hassle people on the
shopping precints, which was a lie. I had been conned into filling in the
paperwork when at the point of signing the authouristion for the standing
order I noticed the words "this fundraiser is employed by an agency".

On the subject of charity collection agencies, has anyone noticed a common
'bonding' technique that male canvassers use. It involves identifying a
very normal looking middle aged woman and standing in front of her with
(the canvassers) legs spread apart as far as they will go and the pelvis
spread forward. As a middle aged bloke I tend to get really slimey insincere
looking females approaching me as if we are best buddies. PUKE PUKE....

Canvassing and charity collecting are two quite different activities.

Street collectors for charity are NOT allowed to approach the pubic or
rattle tins at people - they are licenced to just stand and hope they
will receive cash for their charity.

If they annoy you, ask to see their Local authority licence, each
collector should have a copy on his or her person.

As for canvassers - be as strong willed as they are - turn the other way
or tell them to P**s off.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

There was an article in The Herald newspaper on Saturday about these
Charity Muggers operating in Glasgow City centre. An interesting point
was that Greenpeace have stopped using this technique because of
negative feedback. You might want to write (or email) SUSTRANS
explaining your experience and pointing out that you will not support
them while they use this fundraising technique. If enought people do
this hopefully they will get the message and stop.

Keith.

"andy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Walking along the banks of the Taff yesterday, nearing the Blackweir. I
arrive at a gate on the path only to find people in bright yellow jackets
stopping passers by and asking them to sign standing order forms, this
time I think for regular contributions to some cycling charity (SUSTRANS)
or other. It is so annoying, I cannot walk through the centre of Cardiff
without being accosted at least 3 times by these, I suppose you would call
them "professional beggars", now its getting to the point where they are
hitting the countryside as well. I can see a time when they will be on
the top of Penyfan waving their bits of paper and handing you a pen.

They are called Chuggers (Charity Muggers) and they're on commission to sign
up as money people as possible. They usually have nothing to do directly
with the charity, they're usually employed by a third party marketing/fund
raising company.

http://www.bloodychuggers.co.uk/